Last year I began a new tradition for Karen Budan Fine Art of sending out holiday cards featuring one of my paintings to clients and followers as well as family and friends.  The image for last year's card was "D is for Decorations", one of my Alphabet Block Series paintings.  This year I painted a simple scene of different sized cream colored candles all lit against a dark background.  Like many people I love the ambiance of the glow of candles......it makes me feel peaceful.   "Candle Glow" is an 8" x 6" oil on panel.  Now to get the cards printed!

When I was invited to join the Park Gallery in Carmel this summer, the owner mentioned how much she liked "Marbles IV" and thought a similar painting would work well for her clientele.  As a result, "Marbles V" was created.  "Marbles V" is a similar composition to "Marbles IV" using some of the same marbles, but is much larger at 24" x 36".  "Marbles V" is available at Park Gallery, Carmel, CA,

I was honored to learn today that "Marbles IV" won a Merit Award at the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society's 24th Best of America Exhibition.  You may recall from a earlier blog entry that this was the first time I entered this show and was tickled that my work was juried into the show.  This is certainly frosting on the cake!!

"Did You Put Away Your Toys" is my latest painting to be completed.  This 18" x 24" oil painting features another wonderful antique toy borrowed from my friend, Lori and her husband.   Don't you just love the lines of this antique truck?  I actually borrowed two of these trucks, one larger than the other, but this composition called for just the one.  The larger one may yet star in a painting as I so enjoyed painting this one.    As I thought about possible compositions, I found myself thinking of a little boy and the toys he would enjoy playing with along with the truck.  I went to my ever-growing stash of still life objects and pulled out a set of old tinker toys and a jar of marbles.  With the addition of my wooden Pepsi crate to offer more placement options for the toys the painting composition came to life.  Can't you just hear the mother saying, "Did You Put Away Your Toys?"   This painting will be available at Park Gallery in Carmel, CA.